January 2017: Have You Seen The World?

"I see great things in you, Bryan. You should apply to INSEAD, 2016’s #1 MBA program."

Throughout my 27 years of life, I had never thought fondly of formal education. I had always seen it as a formality, simply a must-do. Never a journey. But one day in 2016, these words changed my life into a newly-established, unspeakable, and unfathomable journey of my life. It was the words of a dear life buddy of mine, Zico.

Back then, I thought my world was big enough. Many of my Indonesian friends had admired me for the way I was: I refused to work in corporates and decided to establish my own social venture. I was inspired by the trainees who I shared my knowledge with during the last year of my undergraduate degree: those who came from rural areas and strove under an unsupportive environment yet were able to make it to the top of the national debate championship. They showed me that debates are beyond communication and leadership training; they speak of one’s true character and progress, and the ability to manage responsible freedom of expression – the balance of speaking and listening. Hence, I founded OTP institute, making revenues out of professional income and implementing pro-bono programs in the form of training scholarships in numerous rural areas. I had thought my reach was big enough.

‘Go and discover the world. It is time,’ so my mother said.

After several months of exploring what I would not think I would be okay with, to say the least – GMAT, applications, scholarships, etc… there arrived January 2017.

And here I am, at INSEAD. With 80+ nationalities. 500+ students, from literally all over the globe. And so I began to talk and connect with them, and try to understand the world I was asked to discover.

Have you ever felt so small? I felt so small. I am truly humbled.

There are just so many amazing people – from those who have worked in the jungle and with social communities – to people who used to manage factory floors – and to those who have climbed the career ladder so fast that you find it hard to understand how smart and how humble they are.

There is just so much knowledge I have not known – from the VUCA environment in organizations by Professor Schon Beechler, to the better business judgments among the random uncertainties in life by Professor Spyros Zoumpoulis, and to tens and hundreds of research studies of people and organizational behaviour by Professor Eric Uhlmann. A candy land that you cannot even process sometimes.

There is just so much vigour and energy – everyone’s moving in a fast pace of nine to nine – from morning to evening – and that even excludes all the parties at night – with little networking chats in between, with all the excitements, with all the smiles people still manage to project on their faces even though we know we’re tired.

Is it really that enjoyable? Not always. To tell you the truth, I am overwhelmed. I have this FOMO all over the place (Fear of Missing Out). I did not feel I belong in the first month.

‘But be overwhelmed. Do things you haven’t done. See the world. This year won’t happen again.’

It was the message I got from my scholarship donor, who happens to be part of the INSEAD Board of Directors, Remy Best. His scholarship was the tipping point of my decision to go and give this a try. To be able to have the slightest chance to be able to savour the knowledge of the world – to listen to the magical stories and mature experiences from the global nomads – to be able to process life and make better decisions on an ever faster-spinning earth.

So if you are reading this blog – chances are you either are already in INSEAD, or you are looking to be part of INSEAD soon.

Can I offer you a suggestion?

The fact that INSEAD is #1 for two years in a row says a lot.

This is no longer a random probability. This is a designed process. This is a dream come true for Mr Georges F. Doriot – the founder.

No, I am not talking just about the ranking.

Yes, I am talking about you.

If you are looking to be challenged – to expand your view – to see the world – I can guarantee you that this experience is one of a kind that will be unprecedented. It is one of those spots in the world that gathers hundreds of brilliant people literally from all over the world.

It is not the most perfect place – it has its improvements in the making.

It is definitely not the easiest journey – both before and in the process.

But I believe in one thing very dearly: remember diamonds? They don’t come out from the mines that shiny, right? They were ugly and black before. They were processed with sharp metals. And if they could scream like humans, they probably would. It was painful. It was not easy. But do you see what they become after the process?

And no, it isn’t that painful, if you ask me. This is an amazingly supportive ecosystem.

The ecosystem that would make you and I walk through an unparalleled growth experience.

And I am grateful that I listened to the world I had – because now my world is slowly expanding.

Are you sure you have seen the world?

Because I don’t even think I have.

And I still have 11 months to see it more.

Let’s see the world more in INSEAD, shall we?